Soft tissue fixation system

Abstract

A single delivery needle configuration accommodates multiple soft tissue fixation devices at once. The configuration eliminates the need to reload a fixation delivery device when multiple fixation devices are required. Further, this configuration can include different variations of fixation devices. In embodiments, these fixation devices are typically manufactured from standard braided polyester suture that is cut into segments with predetermined lengths. This design allows the braided suture segments to be preloaded with a suture threaded through the preloaded braided suture segments with a slip knot placed on the proximal end of a first braided suture segments (e.g., distal fixation device). The tailing suture from the slip knot passes through the second, third, fourth braided suture segments, or any required quantity of braided suture segments that have been preloaded into the delivery device. The suture passes completely through a delivery device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical device for implanting a flexible braided anchor assembly for tissue fixation, comprising:
 a closure handle assembly comprising:
 a first loop; 
 a second loop; and 
 a drive; 
   a cylindrical bore passing through the closure handle assembly on a center axis along a length of the closure handle assembly;   a peek outer tube positioned in the cylindrical bore of the closure handle assembly, the peek outer tube being hollow and having a common center line with the cylindrical bore of the closure handle assembly, the peek outer tube comprising a delivery needle having a needle tip at a distal end of the peek outer tube;   a plurality of braided suture segments slidably coupled to a flexible strand, the flexible strand being translationally threaded through plurality of braided suture segments;   a nitinol inner tube positioned in the peek outer tube and having a common center line with the peek outer tube, the nitinol inner tube configured to extrude a first braided suture segment; and   an inner drive tube positioned in the nitinol inner tube and having a common center line with the nitinol inner tube, the inner drive tube configured to extrude remaining braided suture segments of the plurality of braided suture segments, wherein the remaining braided suture segments of the plurality of braided suture segments are translationally threaded through and pressure fit within a detent in the inner drive tube.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical device of  claim 1 , wherein each of plurality of braided suture segments comprises a hollow braided suture segment. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical device of  claim 2 , wherein each of the braided suture segments of the plurality of braided suture segments has a length of between about 5 mm and about 12 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the flexible strand comprises a monofilament strand; and   the plurality of braided suture segments comprises a plurality of hollow braided suture segments aligned end to end having the monofilament strand threaded through the aligned plurality of hollow braided suture segments.   
     
     
         5 . The surgical device of  claim 1 , wherein a column strength of the plurality of hollow braided suture segments is increased by application of at least one of heat or a cyanoacrylate coating to each of the segments of the plurality of hollow braided suture segments. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical device of  claim 5 , wherein a distal end of the flexible strand threaded through a first braided suture segment is looped around the first braided suture segment and knotted around the flexible strand between the first braided suture segment and the first drive tube. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical device of  claim 1 , wherein a braided suture segment of the plurality of braided suture segments has a length of between about 5 mm and about 50 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of braided suture segments is treated with a treatment to increase a rigidity of the plurality of braided suture segments slidably coupled to the flexible strand. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical device of  claim 8 , wherein the treatment comprises:
 heating each of the plurality of braided suture segments; or   applying a cyanoacrylate coating to each of the plurality of braided suture segments.